Ashot Grigoryan with Frantisek Miklosko in Yerevan Tuesday

STEPANAKERT (ArmRadio)—Nagorno-Karabakh is one of the most democratic states in the world and must continue to its progress, said Frantisek Miklosko, First Chairman of the Slovakian National Council upon visiting Stepanakert.

Miklosko is heading a delegation of Solvakian businessmen who visited Syunik, Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on Monday to discuss the implementation joint programs and scope out investment opportunities.

“Nagorno Karabakh has been unrecognized for 20 years, while one visit is enough to get convinced that the people of Arsakh cannot but live independently. Artsakh must continue to behave as an independent state just as it does today until the world accepts its independence,” said Miklosko, who was an election observer during Karabakh’s most recent parliamentary elections.

Nagorno Karabakh one of the most democratic states in the world, Slovak MP says
Frantisek Miklosko, who observed the parliamentary elections in Nagorno Karabakh, is confident that Karabakh is one of the most democratic states in the world and must keep its posture of living as an independent country.

A group of Slovakian businessmen is visiting Syunik and Artsakh today to discuss implementation of joint programs. First Chairman of the Slovakian National Council Frantisek Miklosko is in Yerevan today. He will receive an award from Armenian National Assembly Speaker Samvel Nikoyan.

Miklosko also added that the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is committed to marinating the Christian culture, while Europe has distanced itself from Christian roots. “Nagorno Karabakh is challenging Europe in this regard,” he said adding that the European Union must begin accession talks with Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

In discussing the Armenian Genocide, Miklosko said that “Western Europe has not yet come to understand that the Armenian Genocide served as a basis for the genocides of Nazis and Communists.”

The Slovakian National Council has already adopted a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

On the investment front, the delegation stated that Slovakian businesses have invested in a recently opened hydroelectric power plant with the capacity of 6 Mega Watts in Karabakh. A more powerful (15 Kilo Watt) plant will be constructed in the near future that will provide electricity to Syunik and Artsakh.

Agreements on cooperation in the field of education have also been signed. These accords will enable students from the universities in Goris, Armenia and Stepanakert to study at the University of Skalitsa.

The agreement reached between the educational institutions of Slovakia and Nagorno-Karabakh is seen as a first step for Slovakia’s recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

On Tuesday, Miklosko was scheduled to meet with leaders of Armenia’s National Assembly as receive an award from Speaker Samvel Nikoyan.

Mikelosko and his delegation were accompanied by Ashot Grigoryan, President of the Forum of Armenian Associations in Europe.